School me on Sub hilts

[snow and steel]

Can someone explain to me the rationale, theory behind design and/or use of sub hilts? I can see where some might say "more comfortable", but I can also see where some would say "uncomfortable". It perhaps could offer more control over a blade, but how would you be using one that you need your index to push laterally that low from the centerline of the blade? Is there a history of this design I can read somewhere?

Thanks or your time!~

 

[marcinek]

Aren't they all about stabbing, and "un-stabbing"?

 

[flatface77]

On a hard stab the impact will be spread out a bit more with both your index & middle fingers pushing up against the guard & sub-hilt. It supposedly gives a bit more control in drawing & manipulation too but I've never handled a sub-hilt so I can't say from experience.

Knives with large index grooves are doing pretty much the same thing in a less radical way: